In his sixth season with the Wizards organization, Tommy Sheppard is in his 15th year of service to the NBA. As Washington’s Vice President of Basketball Administration, Sheppard assists with the day-to-day operations of a basketball department that brought three All-Stars in Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler to Washington, and added veteran toughness to the Wizards’ core with DeShawn Stevenson and Darius Songaila. As one of the league’s most potent offenses has led the Wizards to the NBA Playoffs in each of the last four seasons, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2005, Washington joins the Detroit Pistons as one of just two Eastern Conference teams that have been to the playoffs four straight years. Most recently, in the summer of 2008, Sheppard played an integral role in the re-signing of both Arenas and Jamison, ensuring the continuity and cohesion of a team led by the longest tenured coaching staff in the Eastern Conference.

Sheppard’s role in Washington includes responsibilities with salary cap management, negotiations, draft preparation and talent evaluation of collegiate athletes and professionals; domestically and abroad. Additional responsibilities of Sheppard’s include an assisting role in the recruitment and evaluation of free agents, statistical evaluation of NBA players, the hiring of coaches and personnel, and monitoring the Wizards’ efforts in the NBA’s Player Programs. Sheppard is also specifically tasked with organizing the Wizards’ training camp and preseason schedules, overseeing the athletic training, strength training and equipment areas for the team, and overseeing in-arena renovations to areas including the Wizards locker room, players lounge, family lounge and front offices.

Previously a member of the Denver Nuggets organization since 1994, Sheppard served as the Nuggets’ Senior Director of Team Services and Player Relations before his arrival in Washington. With Denver, he oversaw all internal and external communications functions and served as the club’s primary spokesperson. He also scouted internationally and evaluated high school, collegiate and minor league talent.

An active figure within the United States Olympic Movement for over a decade, Sheppard worked as a press attaché for the three Summer Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004), as well as three Olympic Festivals and the 2003 Pan American Games. He assisted with the formation of the Northern European Basketball League (which realigned as part of FIBA Europe) and continues to serve as a consultant for Lithuanian legend and former NBA star Sarunas Marciulionis in various basketball projects.

Sheppard graduated from New Mexico State University in 1991, where he was a three-year member of the Aggie football team. After getting his start in media relations as a student assistant at New Mexico State, Sheppard headed the sports information office at UNLV before taking ranks in the National Basketball Association in 1994. Sheppard and his wife, Rosie, are the parents of five daughters: Bailey, Rebekah, Abby, Emma and Tessa, and one son, Tommy Jr.

To contact Tommy Sheppard about playing for the Wizards please email him by clicking here.